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Austrian traffic technology and tolling giant Kapsch TrafficCom has announced that I-77 Mobility Partners LLC has awarded it a contract to be the toll system provider and systems integrator for the Interstate 77 Express Lanes project in Charlotte, North Carolina.

The project represents North Carolina’s first express lane and concession-led project, as well as one of the first toll facility construction projects in Charlotte. The project also demonstrates a commitment by the state of North Carolina to improve mobility in the region by using modern managed lanes to relieve traffic congestion and provide reliable travel times, while also offering drivers a choice in commuting options. The express lanes will be constructed within the 26 mile-long (42km) section of the I-77 highway between uptown Charlotte and Mooresville.

Kapsch’s contract comprises the end-to-end design, installation, and ongoing maintenance of the project’s field-level systems. The company will design and deploy all tolling and traffic management hardware and field systems, including the Toll Collection System (TCS), Intelligent Transportation System (ITS), and Network Communication System (NCS). As part of a fully-automated managed lanes setup, these integrated components will create a ‘market effect’ on the roadway by enabling the price of the express lanes to adjust according to traffic volume. Drivers can choose to pay the current rate for more reliable travel time, or remain in the general purpose lanes.

The tolling equipment will also include the company’s new Vehicle Detection and Classification (nVDC) sensor (below), which uses stereoscopic video to track and classify vehicles through the entire toll zone, and correlates with tag reads, without the need for in-pavement sensors, which would require lane closures to install and maintain.

Kapsch is an industry leader in designing and deploying comprehensive end-to-end tolling and traffic management systems around the world, and brings recent experience in successfully developing urbanized express lanes in the USA. The company will manage the North Carolina project from its local office in Charlotte. The express lanes are set to open in October 2018.

“We are known for our managed lane roadside solution,” said Chris Murray, president of Kapsch TrafficCom North America. “In multiple US states and now in North Carolina, we pride ourselves in delivering toll revenue transaction systems that are reliable, accurate, and easily reconcilable.”

Javier Tamargo, CEO of I-77 Mobility Partners, added, “We are excited to partner with Kapsch for the design and construction of the ITS and TCS of the I-77 Express Lanes Project. Kapsch’s expertise in developing complex projects similar to the I-77 Express Lanes makes it a great addition to the team to deliver this much needed project.”